Bells



J. H. MALTA Sept. 21, 1965 BELLS Filed July 8, 1963 FIG 5 4 INVENTOR. VJACOB H. MALTA BYffi I g FIG FIG.3

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent BELLS Jacob H. Malta, Doylestown, Pa., assignor toSchulmerich Electronics, Inc., Sellersville, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed July 8, 1963, Ser. No 293,392 13 Claims. (Cl. 116171)This invention relates to hand bells and particularly to hand bells tobe used for playing music.

It is desirable to be able to produce and assemble bells easily, andthis has been diflicult with prior constructions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a musical hand bellof simple construction which can be easily assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide such hand bell arranged sothat it can be struck hard or softly.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a hand bellwhich can be disassembled and then reassembled with the parts in thesame relationship.

In one aspect of the invention, a hand bell may include the usual shellhaving a bell tang opposite the mouth thereof and supporting one portionof index means adapted to register with another portion of index meansin the handle block to which a flexible handle is fixed.

In another aspect of the invention, a yoke block may include a threadedhole therethrough adapted to register with a hole within the handleblock so that a screw means may fasten the yoke block to the inside ofthe shell and the shell to the handle block. Registering index means mayalso be provided between the yoke block and the bell tang permanently toidentify the point at Which the striker hits the shell. This index meansmay be set at the factory to ensure that the bell will have the minimumof wow.

In still another aspect of the invention, the yoke block may hold a yoketo the shell and it may have spaced, parallel legs between which thestriker shaft may be mounted. Provision may be made to support, atdifferent points along said legs, resilient band means that restrictsthe movement of said striker shaft.

In a still further aspect of the invention, a striker may be attached tothe free end of the striker shaft, and it may have a groove surroundingits periphery for the reception of an O-ring.

In still another aspect of the invention, the groove about the peripheryof the striker may be recessed to receive a resilient tubular elementthat is held in place by the O-ring and provides a bulge on the strikerperiphery that produces a soft striking action when it strikes theshell.

In still another aspect of the invention, the striker may include a diskhaving a molded plastic rim about its periphery and in whichdiametrically opposed portions of the plastic rim are thicker than theremainder thereof to produce a soft striking action.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specifi cation and accompanying drawingswhich are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a hand bell to which theprinciples of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a striker;

I FIG. 4 is a plan view of a striker adapted to produce a soft and hardstriking effect;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4;

3,207,124 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 FIG. 6 is a plan View of analternative striker; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the principles of the invention are shown asapplied to a hand bell including a shell 10 to which is integrallyattached a bell tang 11. A handle 12 may comprise a spring temperedsteel core insert 13 encased in a cored, extruded plastic cover 14. Thehandle 12 may be fastened to a handle block 15 by rivets 16 or the like.It has been found that the handle 12 if made of polypropylene givesexcellent results.

A disk 12' preferably of polypropylene may be provided with a holeadapted to snugly receive the tang 11, and the handle block 15 mayoverlie the mating surfaces of the hole and tang 11 to maintain thepolypropylene disk in proper position when the bell is assembled.

A yoke 17 may comprise spaced, parallel legs 18 and 19 joined by aportion 20 (FIG. 2) that passes through a recess 21 within a yoke block22. The yoke block 22 may be removably attached to the shell 10, andshell 10 may be attached to the handle block 15 by a screw 23 thatextends through aligned holes within the handle block 15, the bell tang11 and a threaded hole within the yoke block 22. An index pin 24 may beprovided between the bell tang 11 and the handle block 15 to ensure thathandle 12 is always connected to the bell tang in the proper position.It may extend from within a recess in the bell tang to a recess withinthe handle block. Additionally, another index pin 25 may extend betweenthe yoke block 22 and the bell tang 11 for a purpose to be describedlater. It may also extend from within a predetermined recess in the belltang to a prelocated recess within the yoke block or yoke means.

The yoke legs 18 and 19 of yoke 17 may support a pin 26 extendingtherebetween, and on which pin a striker shaft 27 is pivoted. The lowerend of shaft 27 has a disk 28 fixed thereto by a screw 29. In one formof the invention, the disk 28 may include a peripheral groove 30 ofsemicircular cross section for receiving an undersized O-ring 31 thatmay be stretched to fit snugly within the groove. The O-ring 31 may havea durometer reading of about 55.

The legs 18, 19 may be provided with aligned grooves at spaced intervalstherealong for the reception of a resilient band member 32 to vary theamount of force required to cause the striker 28, 31 to hit the shell10, and to vary the speed with which the striker is caused to leave theshell after striking. The index pin 25, previously referred to, islocated at the factory after the best point of striking between thestriker and shell to provide a minimum of so-called wow. Accordingly,subsequent disassembly ensures the reassembly of the parts in the properorder.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a striker 33 similar to striker 28 may beprovided with a semicircular recess 34 between the walls of a peripheralgroove 35. A small section of resilient tubing 36 may be held withinrecess 34 by an undersized O-ring 37 within the groove 35. The tubularsection 36 may be made from a plastic material such as polyethylene,polypropylene or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the striker may comprise a disk 38 having acentral rim 39 of one diameter and on each side thereof, portions 40, 41of an equal but less diameter than rim 39. The rim 39 may be removed atdiametrically opposed points 42, 43 (FIG. 6). A plastic ring 44 may bemolded to the periphery of the disk 38 and may be circular in form.Accordingly, there will be provided diametrically opposed portions 45,46 of the plastic ring 44 of greater thickness than that of theremainder of the ring so that when said portions strike the shell 10, asoft strike is produced, and when the diametrically opposed, thinnerportions of the ring 44 strike the shell, a hard strike is produced. Thering 44 may be made of a high impact polyethylene or polypropylene.

Although the various features of the improved hand hell have been shownand described in detail to fully disclose two embodiments of theinvention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such detailsand certain features may be used without others Without departing fromthe principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke; means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yokemeans, bell tang and handle block; index means extending from aprelocated point on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within aprelocated recess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; astriker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its freeend; and a handle attached to said handle block.

2. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke; means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yokemeans, bell tang and bandle block; index means extending from aprelocated point on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within aprelocated recess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; astriker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its freeend; a handle attached to said handle block; and index means extendingfrom another point on one of said bell tang and handle block to within arecess in the other of said tang and handle block.

3. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke; means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yokemeans, bell tang and handle block; index means extending from aprelocated point on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within aprelocated recess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; astriker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its freeend; and a handle attached to said handle block, said handle comprisinga spring tempered steel core encased in a plastic covering.

4. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke; means, a handle block; screw means passing through said yokemeans, bell tang and bandle block; index means extending from aprelocated point on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within aprelocated recess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; astriker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its freeend; a handle attached to said handle block, said handle comprising aspring tempered steel core encased in a plastic covering; and indexmeans extending from another point on one of said bell tang and handleblock to within a recess in the other of said tang and handle block.

5. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke; means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yokemeans, bell tang and handle block; index means extending from aprelocated point on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within aprelocated recess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; astriker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its freeend, said clapper comprising a peripherally grooved disk; an undersizedO-ring within the peripheral groove of said disk; and a handle attachedto said handle block.

6. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; a yokemeans; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means, belltang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocated point onone of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocated recess inthe other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaft pivoted insaid yoke means having a clapper at its free end, said clappercomprising a peripherally grooved disk; an undersized O-ring having aduroml eter reading of about 55 within the peripheral groove of saiddisk; and a handle attached to said handle block.

7. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; a yokemeans; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means, belltang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocated point onone of said yoke means and bell tang to Within a prelocated recess inthe other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaft pivoted insaid yoke means having a clapper at its free end; a handle atached tosaid handle block; aligned grooves in spaced relation along said yoke;and resilient band means within said grooves for control ling the actionof said striker shaft.

8. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; a yokemeans; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means, belltang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocated point onone of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocated recess inthe other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaft pivoted insaid yoke means having a clapper at its free end, said clappercomprising a peripherally grooved disk; an undersized O-ring within theperipheral groove of said disk; a handle attached to said handle block;aligned grooves in spaced relation along said yoke; and resilient bandmeans within said grooves for controlling the action of said strikershaft.

9. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; a yokemeans; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means, belltang and handle block; a handle attached to said handle block; indexmeans extending from a prelocated point on one of said yoke means andsaid bell tang to within a prelocated recess in the other of said yokemeans and bell tang; a striker shaft pivoted in said yoke means having aclapper at its free end, said clapper comprising a peripherally grooveddisk; a semicircular recess formed between the walls of said peripheralgroove at a point therein; a resilient tube section within said recesssuch that its axis is transversely arranged relative to said clapper;and an undersized O- ring within said groove and holding said tubularsection within said recess.

10. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means,bell tang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocatedpoint on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocatedrecess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaftpivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its free end; and ahandle attached to said handle block, said handle being made frompolypropylene.

11. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means,bell tang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocatedpoint on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocatedrecess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaftpivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its free end; apolypropylene disk having a central through passage adapted snugly toreceive said tang; and a handle attached to said handle block and havinga transverse dimension greater than the diameter of the hole in saidpolypropylene disk, said handle being made from polypropylene.

12. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means,bell tang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocatedpoint on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocatedrecess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaftpivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its free end, saidclapper comprising a disk having a molded plastic periphery that hasdiametrically opposed portions of greater thickness than the remainderof said periphery; and a handle attached to said handle block.

13. In a hand bell, a shell having a bell tang integral therewith; ayoke means; a handle block; screw means passing through said yoke means,bell tang and handle block; index means extending from a prelocatedpoint on one of said yoke means and bell tang to within a prelocatedrecess in the other of said yoke means and bell tang; a striker shaftpivoted in said yoke means having a clapper at its free end, saidclapper comprising a disk having a molded plastic periphery that hasdiametrically opposed portions of greater thickness than the remainderof said periphery; a polypropylene disk having a central through passageadapted snugly to receive said tang; and a handle attached to saidhandle block and having a transverse dimension greater than the diameterof the hole in said polypropylene disk, said handle being made frompolypropylene.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Menelly 116-150Regester 116-150 Volger 116-171 Mayland 116-149 Deagon 116-171 Deagan116-149 Kline 116-149 Clay 116-167 Miller 74-5585 LOUIS J. CAPOZI,Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

2. IN A HAND BELL, A SHELL HAVING A BELL TANG INTEGRAL THEREWITH; AYOKE; MEANS; A HANDLE BLOCK; SCREW MEANS PASSING THROUGH SAID YOKEMEANS, BELL TANG AND HANDLE BLOCK; INDEX MEANS EXTENDING FROM APRELOCATED POINT ON ONE OF SAID YOKE MEANS AND BELL TANG TO WITHIN APRELOCATED RECESS IN THE OTHER OF SAID YOKE MEANS AND BELL TANG; ASTRIKER SHAFT PIVOTED IN SAID YOKE MEANS HAVING A CLAPPER AT ITS FREEEND; A HANDLE ATTACHED TO SAID HANDLE BLOCK; AND INDEX MEANS EXTENDINGFROM ANOTHER POINT ON ONE OF SAID BELL TANG AND HANDLE BLOCK TO WITHIN ARECESS IN THE OTHER OF SAID TANG AND HANDLE BLOCK.